USciences Awarded PA Grant Supporting ‘It’s On Us’ Campaign

USciences has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to support the It’s On Us campaign, which works to prevent, address, and respond effectively to sexual violence
on college campuses.

Developed by the Center for American Progress with the White House, It’s On US is a national campaign and cultural movement aimed at fundamentally shifting the
way we think about sexual assault, by encouraging everyone to see it as their responsibility
to do something to prevent it. USciences has signed on to become a campus partner
in this campaign and is committed to creating an environment where sexual assault
is not tolerated and survivors are supported.

Governor Tom Wolf launched the “It’s On Us PA” campaign in Pennsylvania in January
2016, inviting education leaders and all Pennsylvanians to play a role in ending sexual
violence. USciences has been a proud supporter since its inception.

“The University is appreciative of this grant initiative from the Governor’s Office,”
said Ross W. Radish, JD, vice president of student affairs and dean of students. “It allows the University
to not only maintain our current initiatives, but to develop new campus programs to
raise awareness and support our campus community in a comprehensive manner.This work is important, but most significantly it’s the right thing to do.”

Over the last several years the Student Affairs along with Public Safety has worked
to improve educational opportunities around sexual violence. The University launched
a marketing campaign to make students aware of available resources and the university’s
procedures regarding sexual violence. The university also expanded educational efforts
to students including how to recognize and report sexual misconduct or relationship
violence both on and off campus.

The new grant funding will expand those efforts and fund the development of a holistic,
multi-pronged strategy to combat sexual violence by increasing prevention programming
and training including for faculty, staff, and students. Training will include bystander
training, alcohol education, and consent education. New grant also will support creation
of a single webpage that will improve access to information and resources, as well
as reporting tool, for sexual violence.